Government plans to scrap GCSEs in favour of new baccalaureate-style exams have been branded ‘untenable’ after a cross-party committee of MPs said they would hurt less able pupils the most and leave others with discredited qualifications.

In a damning report, the Commons education select committee cited a ‘lack of coherence’ over education secretary Michael Gove’s planned reforms for the curriculum and qualifications.

Mr Gove announced last year that GCSEs would be replaced by English Baccalaureate Certificates (EBCs) in English, maths and science, with pupils studying for them from September 2015 onwards.

EBCs in history, geography and languages would follow at a later date under the proposals.

But MPs said in their report: ‘We are very concerned about the potential impact of the EBCs on subjects outside the English Baccalaureate, which will be left with “discredited” GCSE qualifications for some time.

‘We question the extent to which it is possible to “upgrade” some subjects without implicitly “downgrading” others.’

In 2011/12, 41.4 per cent of teenagers failed to get five GCSEs, including English and maths, at A*-C.

The committee said ministers should focus on improving grades of this ‘significant minority’ rather than bringing in an entirely new system.

The speed and extent of Michael Gove’s reforms were criticised (Picture: PA)

‘This damning report supports Labour’s warning that the Tory-led government’s changes will do nothing to improve standards, especially for low-attaining pupils,’ he said.

Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said the government’s position had been rendered ‘untenable’ by today’s report.

‘The education secretary is totally isolated in his view that the English Baccalaureate Certificates are a suitable measure to replace GCSEs,’ she said.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said the committee’s findings represented ‘part of a groundswell’ against the government on the issue.

‘Also he’s not really focusing on those kids who maybe aren’t going to go to university but need high quality vocational qualifications,’ Mr Miliband said of Mr Gove in an appearance on ITV’s Daybreak.

‘If you are a 14-year-old today you might know that you’re going to do A-levels and then go to university, but what if you’re going a different path? What if you’re not academic? I think you or I would probably find it hard to say what young people will be doing at 18.

‘What we want is a gold standard vocational qualification so that people know – young people, parents know – that there’s a good qualification that they can do and it’s going to be respected by employers.

‘And also make sure the apprenticeships are there for them when they leave school or college.’

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: ‘We have been clear that the secondary education system is in desperate need of a thorough overhaul – an objective with which the committee agrees. That is why we are making major changes to ensure we have world class exams that raise standards.’